Old St. Paul’s Church

In 1831, a Methodist Society was organized in this community. The congregation was incorporated as Cantwell’s Bridge Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832. A small meeting house known as “Brickbat Church” was subsequently constructed on land provided by Joseph C. Griffith. Desiring a larger place of worship, construction of the present building was initiated in 1851. Dedicated in 1852, the new structure was formally named St. Paul’s M.E. Church. It was designed by noted architect Samuel Sloan. The congregation continued to worship here for over a century before moving to a new site on Main Street in 1957. In 1974, the building was purchased from the Methodist Conference and sold to the Women’s Club of Odessa for use as a Community Center. An extensive repair and renovation project was undertaken by the organization. Old St. Paul’s Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1982.